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[Q] Is is Possible to Downgrade from 3.2?

I read some posts about how to downgrade the transformer's firmware, but these were all pretty old and when I followed these steps they didn't work. I was wondering if it is still possible to downgrade from 3.2 to 3.1 build 8.4.4.11.
Thanks

one way would be to follow eepad unroot thread to go back to stock 8.4.4.5 and do microSD card update to stock 8.4.4.11

Which recovery do you have?
There is an update for 8.4.4.11 on the ASUS website. This is NOT the OTA udpate. This is a zipped blob that you can flash from the stock recovery. If you are rooted with CWM, I think it might flash through the staging partition.

gee one said:
Which recovery do you have?
There is an update for 8.4.4.11 on the ASUS website. This is NOT the OTA udpate. This is a zipped blob that you can flash from the stock recovery. If you are rooted with CWM, I think it might flash through the staging partition.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have the stock recovery.

I think you can download the 84411 update from the ASUS website and flash it with the stock recovery.
It is not the OTA, but a full system that will over-write your system files. I think you unzip the file and copy the whole ASUS folder to your SD card. Insert your SD card and it will recognize and prompt you for the update. To be clear, you should have something like /ASUS/Update/US_eeepad....8.4.4.11.zip on your sdcard. It will recognize it when it is inserted.
Double check this and flash at your own peril.... it might not let you downgrade, in which case, there are 2 unroot guides in the dev section.

i want to do this, is the SD card 100% needed? i dont have one right now

Sorta- the sdcard would make it easy, but I think you could extract the pieces and flash them via nvflash.
If you are rooted, you can "flash" them via adb by copying the blob onto the staging partition.

why downgrade? it not needed to root or anything, so am i missing someting?

Have you tried nvflash? That seems to be the best way, but be sure to backup data, I got titanium backup and coped the data to my sdcard
Sent from my revolver!

since few weeks ago my TF its been having problem of deep sleeping and will turn on whenever he wants or when battery has 0% but my friend TF which is stock and bought from the same place and time i did still has 3.1 8.4.4.5.2 build is just fine so i wanted to try downgrading

You might also consider reflashing the ROM you are using now. I did notice some odd SOD issues from a bad flash. I had other issues as well- the screen would dim if I tried to follow a link in an email. I forget the actual cause, but it was fixed when I reflashed the right parts back in.

sorry im kinda newb about this.... how do i know what kind of ROM im using and how do i reflash it?

xtonyx06 said:
sorry im kinda newb about this.... how do i know what kind of ROM im using and how do i reflash it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is no exact method of knowing, but you can looking in settings/about tablet and look at the kernel version and build number. Then cross reference them with this thread. You might have a custom rom, in which case it might have the name in the build number.
You might have a bad flash. You could try charging the batttery completely (overnight) and then reflashing. If you are having issues, it might be easier to flash a custom ROM such as Prime 1.9.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1251044
Be sure to back up any important data since nvflash will erase everything.

[I9020A] Nexus S, Master Clear?

Hi everyone... I've tried searching and seen references to this kind of thing, but no download links or guides...
So I've got my Nexus S (bootloader unlocked, rooted, stock 2.3.4 until attempting the following, I have no Sim card in this phone), and I tried to flash 2.3.6, and while the update appeared to run just fine, the wifi won't turn on, just gives "error". So I attempted several things, reflashing the update, flashing the 4.04 update (which was the original point), etc, but they all give the following; installation aborted, assert failed, error in xxx.zip, "status 7".
Anyways... I'm a bit at a loss, I've never had this problem, or any problems flashing ROMs on other phones or updates. It seems no update.zip, or any .zip, will install. Back in my captivate days, there was a very handy program called Odin, and it had a master clear functionality that brought you back to the stockest of stock. Ideally... is there a tool like this for the Nexus S? I don't care about whether or not it re-locks the bootloader, I can unlock it again in just a couple minutes... but I need help.
I've read guides about "return to stock" but they all involve flashing a .zip. I need a way to push past that, and get back to 2.3.4, or alternatively, a way to completely reinstall 2.3.6.
I know an Odin exists for the Nexus S, but is there a way to use that to reset to stock?
Thank you so much anyone who can help...

Do you see an android and exclamation mark as you enter recovery? This means you have stock recovery and you cannot flash anything that hasn't been signed by google here. Stock is flashed on each boot on a stock ROM, you need to rename/delete /system/etc/install-recovery.sh to stop this.
If you don't have stock recovery, update to the latest CWM (touch or not is irrelevant) and try again. It's recommended to do a full wipe (data/factory reset, format /system and optionally format /boot) when doing a major ROM change (ie, CM to non-CM, GB to ICS, etc), and failure to do so could leave you with some interesting problems like that wifi issue.
And as always, make sure you backup properly before flashing -anything-.
edit to answer more questions: Odin is available for the Nexus S but near-useless. Fastboot can do just as much, and there are official fastboot images released by google to bring you back to a pure stock state. You'll just need an unlocked bootloader to do that, though you can relock straight afterward with no repercussions.

Harbb said:
Do you see an android and exclamation mark as you enter recovery? This means you have stock recovery and you cannot flash anything that hasn't been signed by google here. Stock is flashed on each boot on a stock ROM, you need to rename/delete /system/etc/install-recovery.sh to stop this.
If you don't have stock recovery, update to the latest CWM (touch or not is irrelevant) and try again. It's recommended to do a full wipe (data/factory reset, format /system and optionally format /boot) when doing a major ROM change (ie, CM to non-CM, GB to ICS, etc), and failure to do so could leave you with some interesting problems like that wifi issue.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Heh, yeah I guess I should have wiped previous to running this upgrade. I guess I was hoping data would preserve, because theoretically it should have been just like the Google OTA.
And I have CWM... I'm not sure if it is the latest version, but the phone can't get any data connectivity so I can't update it.
Harbb said:
edit to answer more questions: Odin is available for the Nexus S but near-useless. Fastboot can do just as much, and there are official fastboot images released by google to bring you back to a pure stock state. You'll just need an unlocked bootloader to do that, though you can relock straight afterward with no repercussions.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, so fastboot is my solution. I've used that to unlock my bootloader, but little else (on a Mac, because terminal is super easy to use, but I've got PC access too). I've found the Google fastboot images, do you (or anyone reading this) know of a good fastboot image flashing guide?

Dareoth said:
Heh, yeah I guess I should have wiped previous to running this upgrade. I guess I was hoping data would preserve, because theoretically it should have been just like the Google OTA.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Some people supposedly had troubles with the ICS update and keeping all data as-is, though i've not experienced it myself, but it is definitely possible and with such a big update, if it's in your power to start fresh it is always the best option. It was more of a general statement, not directed at your situation - something to keep in mind
Dareoth said:
And I have CWM... I'm not sure if it is the latest version, but the phone can't get any data connectivity so I can't update it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can flash the latest CWM through fastboot from your PC or Mac, you can grab the latest file from here. Name it whatever you like and put it in a known folder (preferrably current folder) and : fastboot flash recovery recovery.img
Dareoth said:
Ok, so fastboot is my solution. I've used that to unlock my bootloader, but little else (on a Mac, because terminal is super easy to use, but I've got PC access too). I've found the Google fastboot images, do you (or anyone reading this) know of a good fastboot image flashing guide?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Of course i do

Great, I'm all set now. Thanks so much.
(Also for linking to that ref guide again, I had read it three times, but I didn't get how to use it until I went in going, I just need the fastboot commands, which is all that guide gives.)

Your welcome mate. All you need for that is setting up the android SDK or essentially downloading platform-tools seperately. There are guides all over the place describing how to do this for Windows, Mac and Linux as it is no different from getting oem unlock to work, they're just mostly disguised as rooting guides.
Once you do it the first time it's quite simple, but it can definitely be confusing before that

[Q] Semi-bricked tf300t

I'll preface this by saying the following:
I know there are a lot of brick guides out there, and most are relatively easy to get out of. I've worked myself into a bit of a pickle, though.
It started when I noticed that there was an update available through the CM updater. I figured, what the hell, I'm running a nightly and this is likely to be a stable release, so I went ahead and downloaded it. I got home and checked the get.cm page, and sure enough, a new, stable build had recently been released. Being the diligent soul that I am, I made sure to do a full backup before I installed the .zip. Everything worked out just fine, the backup went swell, the update finished without problems, and then I rebooted my device.
All I see is the Asus splash screen. It just stays there. So I think, no big deal, it just didn't work out like I wanted, I'll go format my data (which I didn't do the first time around, in hopes that everything would carry over) and install again. The same thing happens. I haven't started panicking yet, since I still have 3 backups (1 older Jellybean, and one much older ICS). None of them work. I wipe everything that I can think might help. Data, system, cache, dalvik, you name it. Nothing was working, and I was starting to freak out. Then I decided to try to get some action through fastboot, hoping that I could push a .zip that wasn't the CM10 update that had started everything. In my search for a push command, I thought it would be a good idea to try a wipe from fastboot. This wiped everything. Not only the system, boot, etc. partitions, but also my personal partition that had all of my data. This in itself isn't a big problem, but it also left the partitions unformatted. Now I have a device that is devoid of data and can't do anything but get into CWM and fastboot.
What the hell can I do? Am I doomed? Is there no way to get out of the hole I've dug myself into?
tl;dr failed update, things got really real, really fast.
Specs before the initial update
ROM: CM10 nightly, Jellybean 4.1.x
CWM: 5.5.0.4
Kernel Version (?): 9.4.3.30-20120604 (I'm not sure with this, it says something about "android carhu-user" before it)

same thing just happened to me. Im going to download another version of CM and try that. It might just be that.

DerangedLoofah said:
same thing just happened to me. Im going to download another version of CM and try that. It might just be that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's the thing, though, I have no idea how I'm supposed to get it to my device now...

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1989076
Have you tried this? I was just thinking about it because I can't reflash my recovery and thought this may be the way to start over.

OK I downloaded the us jb update and extracted to my external SD card and flashed it in recovery after wipes. Everything is good now.
Edit: flash recovery in fast boot.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2

Glad you got it!

nitsuj79 said:
Glad you got it!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
DerangedLoofah managed to get it, but I still haven't had any luck.

DerangedLoofah said:
OK I downloaded the us jb update and extracted to my external SD card and flashed it in recovery after wipes. Everything is good now.
Edit: flash recovery in fast boot.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How did you flash it in fastboot? I can't figure out how to get to something that's on the external SD card. What were the exact commands you used?

1. Download any software from this topic http://forum.xda-developers.com/show....php?t=1697227
2. Unpack it one so you have a zip without UpdateLauncher
3. Rename the zip to EP201_768_SDUPDATE.zip
4. Put on a sdcard into the root (the sdcard should be clean, no other files)
5. Boot you tablet to RCK (Volume down + power, then volume up)
6. Let the magic begin!!! Take some minutes.
Attention! JB user pleas choose a JB ROM, don't flash ICS ROM on JB bootloader.
You tried this method with no love? I was able to flash stock pretty easily doing this.

nitsuj79 said:
1. Download any software from this topic http://forum.xda-developers.com/show....php?t=1697227
2. Unpack it one so you have a zip without UpdateLauncher
3. Rename the zip to EP201_768_SDUPDATE.zip
4. Put on a sdcard into the root (the sdcard should be clean, no other files)
5. Boot you tablet to RCK (Volume down + power, then volume up)
6. Let the magic begin!!! Take some minutes.
Attention! JB user pleas choose a JB ROM, don't flash ICS ROM on JB bootloader.
You tried this method with no love? I was able to flash stock pretty easily doing this.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Does that work with CWM? I don't have the stock bootloader on it.

This works only if you didn't flash custom recovery, it is the best method for locked devices. But you can still flash any stock ROM from CWM (but I suggest to use TWRP, you can install it from external sd). And you can push the ROM to internal memory via adb. I think you can install stock ROM via fastboot too, I am not sure, but the command fastboot update should help.

I managed to get it working again. If you can get to fastboot, push a bootloader that supports an external SD cards (like TWRP) and then from that install one of the official ASUS firmwares. From there, you have to root again, but it's better than having a device that won't boot at all.

Boot Image?

I've searched up and down for this and have yet to find a solid answer, so here I am. I have an AT&T One X (Evita), unlocked, rooted and flashed. Currently running TWRP & GooManager for recovery and ROMs and I'm on Viper 3.2.6.
Initially, my choice was to flash CM10, this failed and went into boot loop. So I recovered and tried Viper. No problems....everything installed just fine. However, I'd like a more lightweight OS - Viper is a little too heavy for my tastes. I saw in GooManager yesterday a new ROM, Liquidsmooth (4.2.2) - decided to flash it and the same thing happened as with CM10 - everything went fine through install and then black.....second install attempt resulted in another bootloop.
I recovered back to Viper without issue, but I can't help but wonder why both CM10 and Liquidsmooth fail to install, but suspect I'm missing a certain boot img? Am I correct here?
(I'd post this to the specific ROM forum but don't have enough posts to submit to developer forums - apologies)

originalseven said:
I've searched up and down for this and have yet to find a solid answer, so here I am. I have an AT&T One X (Evita), unlocked, rooted and flashed. Currently running TWRP & GooManager for recovery and ROMs and I'm on Viper 3.2.6.
Initially, my choice was to flash CM10, this failed and went into boot loop. So I recovered and tried Viper. No problems....everything installed just fine. However, I'd like a more lightweight OS - Viper is a little too heavy for my tastes. I saw in GooManager yesterday a new ROM, Liquidsmooth (4.2.2) - decided to flash it and the same thing happened as with CM10 - everything went fine through install and then black.....second install attempt resulted in another bootloop.
I recovered back to Viper without issue, but I can't help but wonder why both CM10 and Liquidsmooth fail to install, but suspect I'm missing a certain boot img? Am I correct here?
(I'd post this to the specific ROM forum but don't have enough posts to submit to developer forums - apologies)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes there is a sense kernel and one for non-sense roms (aosp)
Usually the dev will have a kernel link posted on their page

If you are hboot 1.14 or higher, and S-on, to be perfectly safe you should extract the boot.img for the ROM zip you are trying to flash, and flash it manually.
Also, be careful installing ROMs with GooManager (or similar apps, like ROM Manager). Not sure if it properly differentiates between the dual and quad core versions of the One X/XL.

redpoint73 said:
If you are hboot 1.14 or higher, and S-on, to be perfectly safe you should extract the boot.img for the ROM zip you are trying to flash, and flash it manually.
Also, be careful installing ROMs with GooManager (or similar apps, like ROM Manager). Not sure if it properly differentiates between the dual and quad core versions of the One X/XL.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is it better to just boot into recovery (TWRP) and go that route, instead of having Goo flash it?
I checked the page where the ROM exists but I'm not seeing a link to any specific kernel. However, I downloaded to ROM again to my desktop just now, unarchived it and now see a 'boot.img" file. So this file.....this gets placed on my sd card, I boot into TWRP and flash it?
If you can point me to a how-to on this, I'd appreciate it - I hate filling boards with asinine questions.

originalseven said:
I've searched up and down for this and have yet to find a solid answer, so here I am. I have an AT&T One X (Evita), unlocked, rooted and flashed. Currently running TWRP & GooManager for recovery and ROMs and I'm on Viper 3.2.6.
Initially, my choice was to flash CM10, this failed and went into boot loop. So I recovered and tried Viper. No problems....everything installed just fine. However, I'd like a more lightweight OS - Viper is a little too heavy for my tastes. I saw in GooManager yesterday a new ROM, Liquidsmooth (4.2.2) - decided to flash it and the same thing happened as with CM10 - everything went fine through install and then black.....second install attempt resulted in another bootloop.
I recovered back to Viper without issue, but I can't help but wonder why both CM10 and Liquidsmooth fail to install, but suspect I'm missing a certain boot img? Am I correct here?
(I'd post this to the specific ROM forum but don't have enough posts to submit to developer forums - apologies)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
viper doesn't require you to flash the boot image, it does it for your.
For cm10 or liquidsmooth you need to, an easy way is using Flash GUI. its available on the market and xda. you don't need to hook up to a computer to flash boot image, makes things much easier and faster.

originalseven said:
Is it better to just boot into recovery (TWRP) and go that route, instead of having Goo flash it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For flashing the actual ROM, I don't think it matters. I think Goo Manager is still using TWRP, just automating the process.
originalseven said:
I checked the page where the ROM exists but I'm not seeing a link to any specific kernel. However, I downloaded to ROM again to my desktop just now, unarchived it and now see a 'boot.img" file.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The boot.img has the kernel in it. They are usually not posted separately in ROM threads. ROMs always contain a kernel, which normally just flashes with the rest of the ROM zip. But hboot 1.14 and above (if you are S-on) prevents the kernel from being flashed in recovery (TWRP). So you need to extract it from the ROM zip manually.
originalseven said:
So this file.....this gets placed on my sd card, I boot into TWRP and flash it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Again, you can't flash boot.img from TWRP, which is the whole point. Couple methods:
1) Leave the boot.img on your PC, and flash using fastboot. See here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1952076
2) Alternately, you can use the app "Flash Image GUI" on the Play Market. With this app, you place boot.img in the top directory of your SD card, then use the app to flash it.
Or you can S-off, and not have to mess with flashing boot.img seperately every time you flash a ROM.

redpoint73 said:
For flashing the actual ROM, I don't think it matters. I think Goo Manager is still using TWRP, just automating the process.
The boot.img has the kernel in it. They are usually not posted separately in ROM threads. ROMs always contain a kernel, which normally just flashes with the rest of the ROM zip. But hboot 1.14 and above (if you are S-on) prevents the kernel from being flashed in recovery (TWRP). So you need to extract it from the ROM zip manually.
Again, you can't flash boot.img from TWRP, which is the whole point. Couple methods:
1) Leave the boot.img on your PC, and flash using fastboot. See here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1952076
2) Alternately, you can use the app "Flash Image GUI" on the Play Market. With this app, you place boot.img in the top directory of your SD card, then use the app to flash it.
Or you can S-off, and not have to mess with flashing boot.img seperately every time you flash a ROM.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Awesome - thank you so much. Cleared that up completely.

redpoint73 said:
For flashing the actual ROM, I don't think it matters. I think Goo Manager is still using TWRP, just automating the process.
The boot.img has the kernel in it. They are usually not posted separately in ROM threads. ROMs always contain a kernel, which normally just flashes with the rest of the ROM zip. But hboot 1.14 and above (if you are S-on) prevents the kernel from being flashed in recovery (TWRP). So you need to extract it from the ROM zip manually.
Again, you can't flash boot.img from TWRP, which is the whole point. Couple methods:
1) Leave the boot.img on your PC, and flash using fastboot. See here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1952076
2) Alternately, you can use the app "Flash Image GUI" on the Play Market. With this app, you place boot.img in the top directory of your SD card, then use the app to flash it.
Or you can S-off, and not have to mess with flashing boot.img seperately every time you flash a ROM.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, so I looked at this Flash Image GUI on G-Play and the OneX isn't listed as a supported device - is it simply not listed, but is actually supported? For instance, I see this in the reviews...
"I own the AT&T model of the HTC One X (the Evita with a Snapdragon 4 processor) and unfortunately I got it on the 2.20 version. This means that I need to run the "fastboot flash boot boot.img" from my computer if I want to flash a Rom or kernel. It was a pain, I just wanted to be able to download a new Rom whenever and where ever I wanted (I have a very large data cap) and flash it on the go. I can actually do that now it's worked with both AOSP and Sense based Roms, so I'm happy. Great job to the dev "
Failing that, I'll run it from terminal (im on a mac) and assume those same commands apply (but with -mac after bootloader).

originalseven said:
Ok, so I looked at this Flash Image GUI on G-Play and the OneX isn't listed as a supported device - is it simply not listed, but is actually supported? For instance, I see this in the reviews...
"I own the AT&T model of the HTC One X (the Evita with a Snapdragon 4 processor) and unfortunately I got it on the 2.20 version. This means that I need to run the "fastboot flash boot boot.img" from my computer if I want to flash a Rom or kernel. It was a pain, I just wanted to be able to download a new Rom whenever and where ever I wanted (I have a very large data cap) and flash it on the go. I can actually do that now it's worked with both AOSP and Sense based Roms, so I'm happy. Great job to the dev "
Failing that, I'll run it from terminal (im on a mac) and assume those same commands apply (but with -mac after bootloader).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
flashimagegui is perfectly supported. got support awhile back. [APP] Flash Image GUI - Flash Kernels and Recoveries from normal Android mode!

Need help updating from rooted 5.1.1

I have a Shield Tablet (post battery fire exchange) and I would like to update it to the newest firmware/os... It is currently rooted, running BitO-Kernel, and stock nvidia rom. I did all the rooting and flashing on this tablet originally, but I never kept it up to date with newer updates. I heard on this forum awhile back that it's not just as simple as flashing a new rom, something about having to flash some other system stuff first or some partition or something. Basically I'm looking for a guide on how to update a Shield Tablet from rooted 5.1.1 to the newest OS version avalible. I tried sreaching the forum, but I couldn't find what I was looking for (maybe I'm not using the right search keyworks).

Agreed, that it is typically best to keep devices updated with the whole OTA update, which include firmware, modems, and whatever other partitions (not always flashed with custom ROMs). Although I'm not sure if there is much changed in those partitions between 5.1.s and 5.2.
That is the original Shield tablet (not the K1) right?
If so, I think you can just download the full OTA zip, and flash in TWRP: https://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=72501806&postcount=35
Then root (flash Magisk or SuperSU) right away before rebooting, if you want to keep TWRP. If you don't root, the update will cause TWRP to be replaced with stock recovery.
Another option, if you made a backup of the stock ROM before installing custom ROM (I suggest always doing that) you can restore it, and should get the OTA notification. Then you should be able to just download and update that way. Again, root before rebooting, if you want to retain TWRP.
If all the above fail, you can download the recovery OS, and flash all the components using fastboot, as described in the supplied instructions:
https://developer.nvidia.com/gameworksdownload#?search=SHIELD%20Tablet%20wifi&tx=$additional,shield

redpoint73 said:
Agreed, that it is typically best to keep devices updated with the whole OTA update, which include firmware, modems, and whatever other partitions (not always flashed with custom ROMs). Although I'm not sure if there is much changed in those partitions between 5.1.s and 5.2.
That is the original Shield tablet (not the K1) right?
If so, I think you can just download the full OTA zip, and flash in TWRP: https://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=72501806&postcount=35
Then root (flash Magisk or SuperSU) right away before rebooting, if you want to keep TWRP. If you don't root, the update will cause TWRP to be replaced with stock recovery.
Another option, if you made a backup of the stock ROM before installing custom ROM (I suggest always doing that) you can restore it, and should get the OTA notification. Then you should be able to just download and update that way. Again, root before rebooting, if you want to retain TWRP.
If all the above fail, you can download the recovery OS, and flash all the components using fastboot, as described in the supplied instructions:
https://developer.nvidia.com/gameworksdownload#?search=SHIELD Tablet wifi&tx=$additional,shield
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks I appreciate the help! Yes it's an original tablet (not the k1). It's currently rooted with the Bit-O kernel running over the stock Nvidia 5.1.1 os (also has twrp on it as well). I'd like to keep root. I'll have to do some more search to see if I can find the old thread where I was told it's more difficult the a simple flash, I remember it was explained fairly clearly, I just can remember exactly what that was lol.
EDIT: found the original post where I was asking about this from last year, the issue revolves around the Staging Blob which I've never worked with before and know nothing about it (usually just ROMs and kernel flashes and occasionally radio images).
https://forum.xda-developers.com/shield-tablet/help/how-update-rooted-shield-tablet-to-t3355436

bluegizmo83 said:
It's currently rooted with the Bit-O kernel running over the stock Nvidia 5.1.1 os (also has twrp on it as well). I'd like to keep root.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You won't be able to update the OS and keep root. Which is pretty typical when updating most Android devices (root will be lost). But for the 1st and 2nd options I gave (flashing the OTA zips in TWRP), it's easy to just root the device again. Just have your preferred root zip (Magisk or SuperSU) on the phone when you update. Then after the update (before rebooting to OS) while still in TWRP, just flash the root zip. Then you will be rooted, and TWRP will not be wiped (replaced by stock recovery).
3rd option (flash Recoveyr OS in fastboot), getting root again is a few more steps, but still not that hard. After flashing all the components, reboot and verify everything is working. Then go to fastboot again, flash TWRP. Then boot into TWRP, and flash the root file (Magisk or SuperSU).
For any of the options 1-3, if you want to then flash your custom kernel again after rooting, you are free to do so. I'd probably verify the stock OS is working. Then boot to TWRP, make a backup of the stock kernel & ROM, then flash your desired kernel.
bluegizmo83 said:
I'll have to do some more search to see if I can find the old thread where I was told it's more difficult the a simple flash, I remember it was explained fairly clearly, I just can remember exactly what that was lol.
EDIT: found the original post where I was asking about this from last year, the issue revolves around the Staging Blob which I've never worked with before and know nothing about it (usually just ROMs and kernel flashes and occasionally radio images).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
On the 3rd option (flash Recovery OS in fastboot), if you go to the link then click the desired version 5.2, it will expand, and you will see Downloads for the Windows or Linux files, and instructions below that. Click on "instructions" and you will see there are steps to extraxt various components, than flash each one individually using fastboot:
fastboot flash recovery recovery.img
fastboot flash boot boot.img
fastboot flash system system.img
fastboot flash userdata userdata.img
fastboot flash staging blob
If you do the other methods (flash OTA zip with TWRP) I believe all these components are included, and just flash automatically.

redpoint73 said:
You won't be able to update the OS and keep root. Which is pretty typical when updating most Android devices (root will be lost). But for the 1st and 2nd options I gave (flashing the OTA zips in TWRP), it's easy to just root the device again. Just have your preferred root zip (Magisk or SuperSU) on the phone when you update. Then after the update (before rebooting to OS) while still in TWRP, just flash the root zip. Then you will be rooted, and TWRP will not be wiped (replaced by stock recovery).
3rd option (flash Recoveyr OS in fastboot), getting root again is a few more steps, but still not that hard. After flashing all the components, reboot and verify everything is working. Then go to fastboot again, flash TWRP. Then boot into TWRP, and flash the root file (Magisk or SuperSU).
For any of the options 1-3, if you want to then flash your custom kernel again after rooting, you are free to do so. I'd probably verify the stock OS is working. Then boot to TWRP, make a backup of the stock kernel & ROM, then flash your desired kernel.
On the 3rd option (flash Recovery OS in fastboot), if you go to the link then click the desired version 5.2, it will expand, and you will see Downloads for the Windows or Linux files, and instructions below that. Click on "instructions" and you will see there are steps to extraxt various components, than flash each one individually using fastboot:
fastboot flash recovery recovery.img
fastboot flash boot boot.img
fastboot flash system system.img
fastboot flash userdata userdata.img
fastboot flash staging blob
If you do the other methods (flash OTA zip with TWRP) I believe all these components are included, and just flash automatically.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh ok thanks! I'll definitely try to flash that 5.2 OTA zip from twrp and see if that works. After that, I should be able to flash any current update (like 6.0) also, correct? And I assume I need to flash 5.2 first before flashing 6.0 (or whatever the most current shield tablet OTA is), correct?

bluegizmo83 said:
Oh ok thanks! I'll definitely try to flash that 5.2 OTA zip from twrp and see if that works.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Pretty sure it's how I updated to 5.2 (then rooted), and probably the easiest of the options. It's been a busy last couple months, so it's all a little blurry!
bluegizmo83 said:
After that, I should be able to flash any current update (like 6.0) also, correct?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Correct.
bluegizmo83 said:
And I assume I need to flash 5.2 first before flashing 6.0 (or whatever the most current shield tablet OTA is), correct?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not 100% sure. It's a full OTA zip, not an incremental update. So in those cases (full OTA) it may not need the preceding update installed. But again, I'm not sure.

redpoint73 said:
Pretty sure it's how I updated to 5.2 (then rooted), and probably the easiest of the options. It's been a busy last couple months, so it's all a little blurry!.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok thanks again, I appreciate all the help! One last question I promise lol. Do I need to wipe anything in twrp before I flash an OTA zip? In the past I've been told wipes are not required for incremental updates (like 5.0 to 5.1 to 5.2) but they are usually recommended for larger os revisions like 5.0 to 6.0, does that still hold true?

bluegizmo83 said:
One last question I promise lol. Do I need to wipe anything in twrp before I flash an OTA zip? In the past I've been told wipes are not required for incremental updates (like 5.0 to 5.1 to 5.2) but they are usually recommended for larger os revisions like 5.0 to 6.0, does that still hold true?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would say that is still true. Don't think you need to wipe anything (except cache and Dalvik - which I usually wipe when flashing anything), and I don't think I did either. Make a TWRP backup, in case anything goes wrong, as well as any other backups of apps, data, etc. (such as Titanium)..
Ask all the questions you like. It's fun to help, although I may not necessarily always know the answer!

redpoint73 said:
I would say that is still true. Don't think you need to wipe anything (except cache and Dalvik - which I usually wipe when flashing anything), and I don't think I did either. Make a TWRP backup, in case anything goes wrong, as well as any other backups of apps, data, etc. (such as Titanium)..
Ask all the questions you like. It's fun to help, although I may not necessarily always know the answer!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok thanks. I did just think of one more question, its not 100% related to flashing though... On my shield tablet, I have a 128gb SDcard in it, and I use Folder Mount to move all my large apps and games to the SDcard. Do these backup through TWRP if I check every box (I don't think it does cause there isn't a check box to backup the sdcard)? Would titanium backup work better to backup and restore these large apps & games that were moved with Folder Mount?

bluegizmo83 said:
Ok thanks. I did just think of one more question, its not 100% related to flashing though... On my shield tablet, I have a 128gb SDcard in it, and I use Folder Mount to move all my large apps and games to the SDcard. Do these backup through TWRP if I check every box (I don't think it does cause there isn't a check box to backup the sdcard)? Would titanium backup work better to backup and restore these large apps & games that were moved with Folder Mount?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can't backup internal storage or SD card in TWRP.
I don't personally use anything like Folder Mount. I would think as long as the folders are where they are supposed to be, and the data for Folder Mount is preserved/migrated properly, then it will all still work as it did before the update. If you are really paranoid, you can make a copy of the folders on your SD card to your computer as a "backup".

redpoint73 said:
You can't backup internal storage or SD card in TWRP.
I don't personally use anything like Folder Mount. I would think as long as the folders are where they are supposed to be, and the data for Folder Mount is preserved/migrated properly, then it will all still work as it did before the update. If you are really paranoid, you can make a copy of the folders on your SD card to your computer as a "backup".
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just noticed on that download link you posted earlier, that Nvidia lists the newest update as 5.2.0, but that is actually Android os version 7.0. Earlier when I said on was on 5.1.1 I meant Android os 5.1.1 (as in Lollipop), not shield os version 5.1 (which is Nougat). Sorry if that wasn't clear in the beginning. Does that effect any of your original advise? Just thought I should double-check that.

bluegizmo83 said:
I just noticed on that download link you posted earlier, that Nvidia lists the newest update as 5.2.0, but that is actually Android os version 7.0. Earlier when I said on was on 5.1.1 I meant Android os 5.1.1 (as in Lollipop), not shield os version 5.1 (which is Nougat). Sorry if that wasn't clear in the beginning. Does that effect any of your original advise? Just thought I should double-check that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not sure if it matters with the OTA. My feeling is, that it won't matter, and it will still install.
My guess is that in the worst case, the OTA fails, and you have to resort to flashing the recovery OS version.